Hoş geldiniz, lütfen içeri buyurun.

Welcome, please come in.

Breakdown of Hoş geldiniz, lütfen içeri buyurun.

• lütfen: please
• içeri: inside
• buyurun: please go ahead
• hoş geldiniz: welcome

Questions & Answers about Hoş geldiniz, lütfen içeri buyurun.

What does each part mean literally, and how is it built?

• Hoş = pleasant, nice.
• geldiniz = gel (come) + -di (past) + -niz (2nd person plural/polite) → “you (polite/plural) came.”
• lütfen = please (from the idea of kindness/favor), used to soften commands.
• içeri = inside (as a direction: “to the inside”).
• buyurun = buyur (go ahead, help yourself, please [do]) + -un (2nd person plural/polite imperative).

Why is geldiniz in the past tense if I’m inviting them in right now?

It’s a fixed greeting that acknowledges the person’s arrival: “(It’s nice that) you have come.” Turkish uses the past form here not as a command but as a conventional welcome used the moment someone arrives. It doesn’t imply the action is over; it’s simply idiomatic.

When do I say Hoş geldiniz vs Hoş geldin?

• Hoş geldiniz: to one person formally/politely or to more than one person (any formality).
• Hoş geldin: to one person you address informally (friends, family, kids). If unsure, Hoş geldiniz is the safe default.

What exactly does the ending -niz in geldiniz indicate?

It marks second person plural, which in Turkish also serves as polite/formal second person singular. The same idea appears in buyur-un (polite/plural imperative). So both geldiniz and buyurun align in politeness.

How do I respond naturally to Hoş geldiniz?

Say the set reply Hoş bulduk (literally “We found it pleasant”). You can add polite extras:

• Hoş bulduk, teşekkür ederiz.
• Hoş bulduk efendim. Note: Hoş bulduk is the conventional reply even if you’re alone.

What does buyurun mean beyond “please come in”?

It’s a very flexible polite invitation/offer:

• Inviting movement: Buyurun içeri (come in), Buyurun oturun (please have a seat).
• Offering/handing something: Buyurun (here you are).
• Serving customers/answering the phone: Buyurun? (How can I help you? / Yes?).

Should I use buyur with friends? What about buyurunuz?

• buyur = singular (friendly/neutral). Fine with people you address informally.
• buyurun = polite/plural. Most common in service or formal contexts.
• buyurunuz = very formal/polite; common on signs or announcements. All are correct; choose based on formality and number.

What’s the difference between içeri, içeriye, içeride, and içeriden?

• içeri: to inside (direction). Very common with motion verbs: içeri buyurun, içeri girin.
• içeriye: also “to inside” (dative form). Slightly more explicit: içeriye girin. Both içeri and içeriye work with motion.
• içeride: inside (location): Misafirler içeride (The guests are inside).
• içeriden: from inside: İçeriden ses geliyor.

Could I say içeri gelin or içeri girin instead of içeri buyurun?

Yes:

• içeri gelin = “come inside” (neutral, polite imperative).
• içeri girin = “enter inside” (a bit more direct/instructional).
• içeri buyurun = adds warmth/politeness; sounds more inviting/host-like.

Is lütfen necessary, and where should it go?

It’s optional but softens the tone. Placement is flexible:

• Lütfen içeri buyurun.
• Buyurun lütfen içeri.
• Hoş geldiniz, lütfen içeri buyurun. All are natural; comma is often used for a polite pause.

How do I pronounce the special letters here?

• ş = “sh” as in “shoe” → Hoş sounds like “Hosh.”
• ç = “ch” as in “chair” → içeri sounds like “i-che-ree.”
• ü = front rounded “u,” like German “ü” or French “u” in “lune” → lütfen, buyurun.
• i is always dotted and sounds like “ee” in “see” when stressed lightly. Keep syllables clear: Hoş gel-di-niz, lüt-fen, i-çe-ri, bu-yu-run.

Is it one word or two: Hoşgeldiniz or Hoş geldiniz?

Standard writing is two words: Hoş geldiniz. On banners or shop signs you may see Hoşgeldiniz, but the separate form is the norm in formal writing.

Where is the pronoun siz? Can I say Siz hoş geldiniz?

Turkish usually drops subject pronouns because they’re encoded in the verb. geldiniz already tells us “you (polite/plural).” Standalone Siz hoş geldiniz is not a normal greeting; you might add siz de for “you too” in a reciprocal context: Siz de hoş geldiniz.

Is Hoş geliniz ever correct?

No. The idiomatic greeting is Hoş geldiniz (with the past tense), not the imperative geliniz. To invite, Turkish uses buyurun rather than geliniz in this formula.

In what situations is this sentence used?

Any arrival context: at a home, office, store, restaurant, event, or reception desk. Staff often greet customers with Hoş geldiniz and then add Buyurun to invite them in or to ask how they can help.

Are there gender distinctions or agreement to worry about?

No. Turkish has no grammatical gender, and nothing in this sentence changes for male/female guests.

Does vowel harmony explain the suffix forms in geldiniz and buyurun?

Yes:

• gel-di-niz uses front-vowel variants (-di, -niz) because the stem gel has front vowels.
• buyur-un uses the back/rounded variant -un after u in buyur-. Suffix vowels adjust to the stem’s vowels to maintain harmony.

Can I change the word order, like Buyurun içeri?

Yes. İçeri buyurun and Buyurun içeri are both natural. The original order gently emphasizes the destination (“inside”); the alternative highlights the invitation first. Both are polite and common.